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Decatur, AL

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Decatur, AL

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Demographics

Majority WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 60
Population57,760
Foreign Born5.6%
Population Density1,058people per mi²
Median Age40.4 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
StableSince 2010, this city has held a relatively stable population and racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
A-
Great

A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

71/100

29% below national average

A+

The Real Cost of Living in Decatur, Alabama

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $14k$26k
Comfortable $37k$54k
Luxury $108k+$167k+
Elite (Top 5%) $127k+$197k+
Affordability Ratio

110%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean88%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
40
Positive
40
Poor
11
Negative
2

Groceries

1 within 10 miles

3.5mi

Gas

0 within 10 miles

Hospital

3 within 20 miles

1.3mi

Airport

Pryor Field Regional Airport/Pryor Flight Center

4.2mi

Post Office

USPS — Madison, AL

15.3mi

Critical Amenities

Country Clubs

1 private club within 10 miles.

Golf1Nearest 3.2 mi
Camping20Nearest 8.6 mi
Marina5Nearest 1.1 mi
Winery0 
Ice Rink0Nearest 101.7 mi
Gun Range2Nearest 3.3 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
C-
Average

A middle-class area roughly in line with national averages across income, home values, education, and employment.

Median HHI
$60k+8.5%
20% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$262k
60% below US avg
College Educated
22.8%
35% below US avg
WFH
4.4%
69% below US avg
Homeownership
63.0%
4% below US avg
Median Home
$191k
32% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
C-
Elevated

Higher crime rates than 62% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
25.0
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
+315.3%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr+569.1%
Homicide
0.09 / 1k Residents1% above state avg
Robbery
0.43 / 1k Residents42% above state avg
Aggravated Assault
5.35 / 1k Residents92% above state avg

Property Crime

5yr+61.5%
Burglary
2.05 / 1k Residents4% below state avg
Larceny-Theft
13.30 / 1k Residents23% above state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
1.74 / 1k Residents9% above state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: R+15Solidly Conservative

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Decatur, Alabama
Dem Rep
30%40%50%60%70%200020042008

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B-
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
C+
Weak9.8% of income
Property Rights
D
WeakIJ Grade D
Firearm Rights
A-
GreatFPC Grade A-
Homeschooling
A-
GoodLow regulation

Energy independence: Importer (45% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
F
ProhibitedIllegal
Gambling Laws
F
ProhibitedTribal · Poker · Betting
Marijuana Laws
C+
LimitedMedical only

Homesteading

Growing Season257 days334 frost-free
Annual Rainfall61.4"
Elevation584 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
C+
Exposed

Meaningful friction. Expect exposure to either population pressure, blast zones, or natural disaster risk. Consider buying a retreat property.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
B+
Good825 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
C-
Weak1,058/sq mi
Fallout Danger
C-
Weak5 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
F
PoorInland Flooding
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 633 mi · coast 276 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$65.1M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CityNashville689k people are 108 mi away
Nearest Major AirportNo hub airport within 50 mi
Distance to State Capital160 miMontgomery, AL
Nearest Prison1.5 mi2 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-19T18:47:38.000Z

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